18 Established 1961 Sports Tuesday, June 2, 2020 Photo of the day Hamilton slams F1 for silence over Floyd death LONDON: World champion Lewis Hamilton criticised the “biggest of stars” in “white-dominated” Formula One for failing to speak out against racism as protests erupted around the United States. The Mercedes driver warned “I know who you are and I see you” as he accused his fellow drivers of “staying silent” following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, during his arrest in Minneapolis. The videotaped incident has triggered unrest in several cities and led to an outpouring of condemna- tion from top athletes including Michael Jordan and Serena Williams. “I see those of you who are staying silent, some of you the biggest of stars yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram. “Not a sign from anybody in my industry which of course is a white-dominated sport. I’m one of the only people of colour there yet I stand alone. “I would have thought by now you would see why this happens and say something about it but you can’t stand alongside us. Just know I know who you are and I see you.” Hamilton, the six-time world champion, said he sup- ported only peaceful protesters, not those who have looted stores and set fire to buildings. But he added: “There can be no peace until our so- called leaders make change. This is not just America, this is the UK, this is Spain, this is Italy and all over. “The way minorities are treated has to change, how you educate those in your country of equality, racism, classism and that we are all the same! “We are not born with racism and hate in our hearts, it is taught by those we look up to.” Basketball legend Jordan joined a chorus of voices from the NBA, NFL and other US sports demanding change for black Americans, but the calls weren’t limit- ed to the United States. RITOQUE: Coco Zurita performs at Ritoque, Chile in 2019. —Photo taken from www.redbullcontentpool.com French footballer Marcus Thuram and England international Jadon Sancho both called for justice for Floyd after scoring in Germany’s Bundesliga. —AFP Japan’s Sunwolves exit Super Rugby as Australia bid fails ‘We are bitterly disappointed to conclude the season in this way’ TOKYO: Japan’s Sunwolves bowed out of Super in that time and were on the receiving end of some Sunwolves’ time with Super Rugby, which has seen port. Rugby Australia’s interim chief executive, Rob Rugby yesterday as they failed to join an Australian giant scorelines. us participate for the past five seasons, will end. Clarke, said officials had been trying to work offshoot of the coronavirus-hit tournament. The The Tokyo-based side would have had to quaran- “We are bitterly disappointed to conclude the through “significant challenges” to field a Sunwolves Sunwolves, who are being kicked out of Super tine for 14 days on arrival season in this way, but we team in Australia. Rugby at the end of the season, said Australian offi- in Australia, and they also also feel honoured to have “However, the reality is, given the timeframe cials had told them they won’t be able to take part. faced problems in secur- participated in the best available the team’s preparation for the competi- The series between Australia’s four Super Rugby ing a permanent base for rugby competition.” tion would be severely compromised,” he said in a teams — Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, ACT 12 weeks. We The Sunwolves, who statement. “All parties agree that despite our col- Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels — along with the They said they had also played home matches lective efforts and desire to see the Sunwolves previously axed Western Force, is set to kick off on consulted with Australia’s also feel in Singapore and Hong take part in the competition, under the current cir- July 3. rugby authorities and Kong, were introduced in cumstances their participation will not be feasi- Super Rugby, which also includes teams from government, but “we honoured 2016 to bring rugby to new ble.” The Sunwolves’ exit comes despite the success New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina, has been reached the conclusion markets. of last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan and the lure on hold since March. “We are announcing that we that we will not be ready But southern hemi- of Japan’s well-heeled Top League, which has have been told by the Australian rugby association to join matches in sphere governing body attracted a series of marquee players from overseas. officially that we are unable to participate in the Australia from July 3”. SANZAAR (South Africa, New Zealand, like Australia, is also planning a competition,” a Sunwolves statement said. “We apologise to people who had been looking for- New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby) were domestic competition, kicking off on June 13, to The decision ends a nearly five-year run in Super ward to the resumption of matches,” said Sunwolves reluctant to bankroll the perennial wooden-spooners fill the hole left by Super Rugby’s postpone- Rugby for the Sunwolves, who won only nine games CEO Yuji Watase. “Following this decision, the after Japan’s rugby board withdrew financial sup- ment. —AFP Open backed a fund worth more than $6 million to support What now for low-ranked players hardest hit by the coronavirus pan- demic. World number one Novak Djokovic had already said tennis in 2020? that he, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal — the sport’s biggest earners with over $100 million each banked in PARIS: Professional tennis has been in cold storage since prize money alone — were also willing to help. However, March due to the coronavirus pandemic with tournaments world number three Dominic Thiem was not keen on giv- unlikely to resume before August. ing money to lower-ranked players. AFP Sport looks at three talking points as the sport “Quite honestly I have to say that no tennis player will be heads into June: FANS IN OR OUT AT US OPEN fighting to survive, even those who are much lower-ranked,” said the Austrian. Marion Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon AND ROLAND GARROS? champion, chimed in last week by suggesting a reduction in l In 2019, the US Open attracted a record crowd of doubles events with prize money diverted to struggling almost 740,000 to its sprawling Billie Jean King Tennis players. “You just don’t make the same effort (in doubles) as Centre in New York. a singles player. You don’t practise so much, your routine is The French Open last year at Roland Garros brought in different. “I don’t know if we have to stop doubles com- 520,000 paying customers. pletely, but to get less money and give that money to qualifi- However, the 2020 editions of the two remaining Grand cation and others, that could be the solution.” Red Bull Solo Slam events on the calendar will look very different with ARE WE MAKING AN the chance of them being played behind closed doors a EXHIBITION OF OURSELVES? real possibility to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. Q – duel your l There is some tennis going on in the world at a series Roger Federer, whose 20-Grand Slam title haul of tightly-controlled exhibition events. includes five titles at the US Open and one in Paris, is not Germany kicked it off on May 1 with an eight-man keen on seeing rows and rows of empty seats. way to victory exhibition in the tiny town of Hoehr-Grenzhausen, near “I can’t bear to see an empty stadium. I hope that won’t KUWAIT: Koblenz which featured Dustin Brown, who famously Are you ready to duel? The official 1v1 happen,” the Swiss star was quoted as saying by Brazilian defeated Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2015. League of Legends (LoL) tournament for players around media recently. Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Strict rules over health and safety meant there were no the world, Red Bull Solo Q, starts online in Kuwait this Kvitova said she too has no desire to play a Slam with fans, no ball boys or girls and no line judges. There was just month! without spectators. Red Bull Solo Q puts a twist on a typical League of a chair umpire. “I would like to play another Grand Slam, but if it’s like Legends match, pitting player against player in a bracket Handshakes were banned, players handled their own this, I’d rather cancel them,” Kvitova said. of 1v1 duels. The first player to earn ‘First blood!’, destroy Sports League and Kuwait Times. The caster will be towels and brought their own water and fruit to the clay “Playing without fans who are our engine doesn’t look the opponents’ tower or reach a 100-minion score wins none other than Deli Gaming, making the national final courts. nice to me and the Grand Slam doesn’t deserve it.” As far the duel. National winners will proceed to the Red Bull even more engaging. Similar events followed in the US before Petra Kvitova as the rescheduled Roland Garros in September and Solo Q World Finals. Red Bull also continues their collaboration with one of won an all-Czech event in Prague last week. October is concerned, Jean-Francois Vilotte, the director- The online qualifiers in Kuwait kick off on June the most popular faces in the League of Legends com- “The gloves, face masks, the fact nobody handed us the munity: sjokz, who will return as the global brand ambas- general of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), told AFP: 9thand continue until the 11th with the semi finals held on towels, no handshakes, that was definitely bizarre,” said the 12th and 13th.